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Jeff Holmquist

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Jeff Holmquist has been managing editor of the New Richmond News since 2004. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and business administration from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He has previously worked as editor in Wadena, Minn.; Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Hutchinson, Minn.; and Bloomington, Minn. He also was previously owner of the Osceola Sun, Stillwater Courier and Scandia Messenger along with his wife. Together they previously founded and published The Old Times newspaper for antiques and collectibles collectors; and Up!, a Christian magazine of hope and encouragement.

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The U.S. House of Representatives voted 333-89 on Thursday morning to exempt the proposed new St. Croix River Crossing project from the restrictions of the Federal Wild & Scenic Riverway Act. The action paves the way for eventual construction of a new four-lane bridge over the St. Croix River at Stillwater, Minn. and Houlton, Wis. The new span will replace the 80-year-old Stillwater lift bridge, which has been deemed obsolete and functionally inadequate for years. The one remaining step in the federal process is a signature from President Barack Obama. According to U.S. Rep.

At first glance, the founding members of the St. Croix County Traumatic Brain Injury support group don't appear to have many troubles. A short conversation about the impact of such injuries on the three individuals quickly puts that initial impression to rest. When Marty Kolstad suffered a mild stroke in 2008, his whole world was turned upside down. He had to give up his job with Lockheed Martin. He has since struggled through a variety of challenges, including memory problems and trouble with dropping things. "It's kind of been an uphill battle ever since," he said.

As St. Croix County voters prepare to vote on a non-binding referendum question in April, the current financial health of the county-owned nursing home in New Richmond is becoming a bit more clear. At last Wednesday's Health and Human Services Committee meeting, Department Director Fred Johnson reported that the 2011 books are nearly ready to be finished. County officials have until the end of March to complete the financial reports concerning last year. As the numbers are finalized, Johnson told the committee that it appears the St.

It's been a year since the formation of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing, a non-profit group advocating for a new bridge at Stillwater, Minn. Much has been accomplished over the past 12 months, said Coalition Co-Chairman John Soderberg, New Richmond, but more work remains before bridge backers can claim victory in the lengthy political battle. "It may not be going as fast as some people would like, but it's being done the right way," Soderberg said.

Will St. Croix County continue to operate a nursing home or will it get out of the business? A majority of the members of the county's Health and Human Services Committee hope the voters will be given a chance to decide the fate of the St. Croix Health Center nursing home during the April elections. The committee voted 7-1 at a special meeting Dec. 21 to recommend to the St.

St. Croix County's income maintenance programs are in for a major change in 2012. Effective Jan. 1, 2012, programs such as BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, medical assistance, family planning and others will be handled by a regional consortium rather than by individual counties. The change in delivery of such state-funded programs is required by Act 32, which was part of Gov.

The St. Croix County Health Center nursing home may be in for some changes in 2012. The county's Health and Human Services Committee met Dec. 14 and a major topic of conversation revolved around the county-owned facility and its financial viability. The company the county has contracted with to provide interim nursing home administrator services, Pathway Health Services, recently completed an evaluation of the current nursing home operation. They determined that the appropriate size of the New Richmond nursing home might be either 50 or 57 beds.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has analyzed a proposal from the "Sensible Stillwater Bridge Partnership" related to a scaled-down version of a new St. Croix River crossing. The partnership, which backs a three-lane bridge at a reduced cost compared to the current $690 million plan, is made up of area residents, environmental advocates and business owners.

Two of the area's state legislators attended the third annual St. Croix County Economic Development Corp.'s legislative forum Monday night. Held at the New Richmond campus of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, the forum provided a chance for attendees to ask questions and get an update on state business during a 90-minute event. In opening statements, State Rep. John Murtha (R-29th District) said the Republican-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov.